“Your majesty, I am afraid we cannot authorize your request.”

“Why? What is this insolence? Sanctullator has failed the empire again, he must be made account-”

“I’m afraid there’s been far more blunders under your term, your majesty. His record outside of the current conflict in Lokahn is stellar. And as much as Parliament is starting to get annoyed, the populace is not going to take his resignation very kindly, so to speak. Stefan’s always had a reputation as a common man, much to everyone in the Parliament’s disgust.”

“To the abyss with the common folk, then! If they cannot see the gravity of our Empire’s cause, then-”

“This isn’t your decision to make, your majesty. The trading guilds, the farmer’s cooperatives and the worker’s associations aren’t going to be pleased when their members are all in uproar. They care little for anything that doesn’t line their pockets. We upset them, and they’ll grind the whole empire to a halt. You can forget about Lokahn Province entirely should that happen.”

“But, the parliament, the will is there, we can act-”

“Parliament is threading on thin ice as is, your majesty. These military blunders haven’t been too kind on our image, either. And we certainly aren’t about to dig a deeper ditch for ourselves.”

“No, this is insolence, it is weakness, I tell you. We have a storied legacy which spans centuries! How would those who bore the Gavel of Justitia before us see us now, so lackadaisical in the face of blatant incompetence?”

“Probably not in a bright light. But your rosy history lesson doesn’t mean much to the present. Forget this whole talk of acting out against Sanctullator. We’ll have to dig in for the long haul, it seems like. The people of Justitia aren’t interested in excuses or preachiness, your majesty. You can accept that, or you can face the consequences of that decision, on your own.”

A hollow echo rang through the hall, as the crown sank into the Silver Throne, a new wrinkle appearing just below. The emperor’s voice spoke again, weakened.

“These demon worshippers have turned into quite the nuisance, haven’t they...”

“I told you nine years earlier it was a mistake to start that war so early.”

“Justitia wanted it.”

“Justitia is patient, your majesty. You are most certainly not.” The servant turned around to leave. “But do not be so stressed. Parliament and High Command are working on solving these… mistakes. The Rebirth program is getting underway.” Steps echoed in the hall; the parliamentary representative was carelessly leaving the emperor to his own whims. “How fitting that their bloodthirst would come to undo them in the end.”